The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1887-10-15

cations of the island and OH the main land
were of n formidable character, and SO con-
strlcted that the gunboats could not come
within range of one without being subjected
to concentrated fire from the others.
On the morning of March 16 the lombard
ment was begun Mt distance of two miles
and Il half, and it continued day after day
for three weeks. Tons OF iron were hurled
into the Confederate works, but without pro-
ducing any apparent impression. On the lst
OF April Gen. Beauregard telegraphed to the
war department at Richmond that the bom-
bardment had continued fifteen days, in
which time the enemy had thrown 5000
shells, expending about 100000 pounds of
powder, with the result of one man killed
and none seriously wounded. Every day"
says II southern history Of the war, "thc NOR
tars continued to boom and the cannon of
the island replied with dull, sullcn roar,
wasting shot and temper alike. The very
birds became accustomed to the artificial
thunder, and alighted upon the branches of
the trees overhanging the mortars i'll the sui
phuro,ls smoke" 1t is only necessary for one
to realize the sublime poetry of war to im-
agine a dozen of these monsters laundering at
once, the air filled with smoke clouds, the
gumboats lelrhing out destruction, the shells
screaming through the nir with unearthly
sounds, and the distant guns of the Ell my
sending their solid shot above and around tho
island dushing the water up in glistening col
INNS and jets of spray
Finding that it was impossible to capture
the position with artillery, Gen. HaIleck Or
dered Gen. Pope to ascertain if it We're posi-
Bile to construct road along the western
bank of the river through the swanlIs and
erect batteries opposite the island that could
cooperate with the fleet. Tho Federal ell
gineers declared that the plan was not feast
bic, wh"reupon Union resident of New
Madrid suggested that n steamboat canal
might be cut across the promontory. The
thought was ut once adopted, AMI steamers
aud light lruuSht boats were sent down
from Cairo with tho necessary implements
to prosecute tho work. The distance to be
trnversed by the canal was twelve miles; its
width was to be fifty feet and its depth not
less than four and half feet One-half of
its length was to he cut through heavy tim
Der. The remainder of the canal ran
through stagnant, swampy bayous filled with
tangled brush. "This herculean labor" says
Gen. Pope, was prosecuted with untiring
labor and determination, under exposure and
privations very unusual even in the history
IF warfare"
RUNNING A GAUNTLET OF FIRE.
At last, on the 4th of April the canal was
open and ready for use. Light transports
.oufl pass through, but there was not .lenth
of water enough for the gunboats and it was
avi,leilt that the river could not be crossed
without the protection of tho ironclads 1t
was accordingly determined to tak" the terri
ble risk of running the batteries, and the
yanboct Carondclet. Capt. Walker, wns
chosen Us the pioneer. The boat w;ls
n5then"l by every contrivancethatc coul,i
be devised. The mos; vulnerable parts were
shielded with rolls Of surplus chains, the
ieclss were covered with layer Of heavy
planks, md large liawser was wound
around til" pilot house un t" the winiow.
The crew wcr" provided with hand srennles,
and hose for throwing hot water wrrr at
tncl,c'l to the boilers for the purpose of re-
pclin9 boar,lcrs A large coal barge laden
with compact bundles OF hay was also taken
i'll tow on the side exposed to the batteries.
The machinery was so adjusted as to permit
the escape of steam through the whceIhouse
and thus avoid the uslul putting in it, pas
sage through the pipes Tho night was all
that could he desired; the atmosphere hnzy
and the start was made. For the first half
mile MI went we'll Suddenly tn" SCOT i'll the
chiinneys took fire and tho fame in their tops
aroused the Confederate encampncnts. Sig
nal rockets We're instantly sent up, the long
roll sounded, and one Of the batteries opened
OH the dim apparition drifting by, almost
within point blank range. Shot now followed
| shot i'll rapid voleys from more than n hum
llred guns. and further conceamc.t being
out of the question orders We're given to the
engineers to drive the boat with all l,ossbl"
speed. AS if the hand of Providence were
directing, storm now burst i'll all its fury,
and amid vivid flashes of lightning and pcnls
| Of thunder, through rain and darkness and